Top Democrats Refer Outgoing DHS Secretary Noem to DOJ for Alleged Perjury

Lawmakers allege Noem misled Congress on a range of issues during recent testimony.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:18pm

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The top Democrats on the House and Senate Judiciary committees have referred outgoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to the Department of Justice for alleged perjury related to her recent congressional testimony. The lawmakers allege Noem made false statements on topics including DHS following court orders, a controversial multimillion-dollar ad campaign, and the role of a top adviser.

Why it matters

This referral highlights ongoing tensions between the Biden administration and congressional Republicans, as well as concerns about potential misconduct by senior Trump-appointed officials. The allegations, if proven true, could have serious legal consequences for Noem and further damage public trust in the federal government.

The details

According to the letter sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Jamie Raskin allege that Noem's statements on DHS following judges' orders, a $220 million ad campaign, and the role of top adviser Corey Lewandowski 'appear to violate criminal statutes prohibiting perjury and knowingly making false statements to Congress.' The Democrats cite contradictory public reporting and documentation that they say undermine Noem's testimony.

  • Noem testified before the House Judiciary Committee on March 4, 2026.
  • President Trump fired Noem the day after her testimony concluded on March 31, 2026.
  • Durbin and Raskin sent the referral letter to the DOJ on March 17, 2026.

The players

Kristi Noem

The outgoing Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, who was recently fired by President Trump.

Dick Durbin

The Democratic Senator from Illinois and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Jamie Raskin

The Democratic Representative from Maryland and chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

Pam Bondi

The Attorney General of the United States.

Corey Lewandowski

A top adviser to Noem at the Department of Homeland Security.

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What they’re saying

“I never knew anything about it.”

— President Donald Trump (Reuters)

What’s next

The Justice Department will review the referral from Durbin and Raskin to determine if an investigation into potential perjury by Noem is warranted.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing partisan tensions and accusations of misconduct within the federal government, raising questions about accountability and transparency at the highest levels of the executive branch.